The Avia Foursomes was a women's foursomes golf tournament contested annually from 1958 to 1989. It was held at Sunningdale Golf Club in its first year but was then played at the Berkshire Golf Club near Ascot, Berkshire. The event consisted of 72 holes of stroke play. From 1958 to 1964 it was called the Kayser Bondor Foursomes and in 1965 Casa Pupo Foursomes before being sponsored by Avia watches from 1966. Avia withdrew their sponsorship after the 1989 event.[1]

Avia Foursomes
Tournament information
LocationAscot, Berkshire, England
Established1958
Course(s)The Berkshire Golf Club
FormatFoursomes stroke play
Month playedMarch
Final year1989

In 1978 the event was opened up to professionals, although they had to play with an amateur.[2]

The 1958 event resulted in a tie, with two pairs equal on 317. An event was planned for 1964 but was abandoned because of snow.[3] The 1971 event was reduced to 36 holes after rain caused the final day to be lost.[4] Early morning fog on the final day reduced the 1974 event to 63 holes, with only 9 holes played in the third round.[5] The 1975 event was abandoned due to snow. The first round had not been completed when it as decided to cancel the event.[6] The 1980 event was reduced to 63 holes after snow and rain reduced play on the opening day to 9 holes.[7] The 1985 event was reduced to 36 holes after snow meant that no play was possible on the final day.[8] The 1989 event was reduced to 54 holes by rain.[9]

Winners

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Year Winners Score Margin of
victory
Runners-up Ref
Kayser Bondor Foursomes
1958   Angela Bonallack &   Janette Robertson
  Elizabeth Price &   Marley Spearman
317 Tie [10]
1959   Jean Anderson &   Jessie Valentine 314 6 strokes   Vicomtesse de St Sauveur &   Brigitte Varangot [11]
1960   Vicomtesse de St Sauveur &   Brigitte Varangot 302 10 strokes   Angela Bonallack &   Elizabeth Price [12]
1961   Jessie Valentine &   Janette Wright 304 4 strokes   Isa Goldschmid &   Belle Robertson [13]
1962   Jean Anderson &   Bridget Jackson 308 4 strokes   Ann Irvin &   Jill Thornhill [14]
1963   Isa Goldschmid &   Brigitte Varangot 307 8 strokes   Marley Spearman &   Vicomtesse de St Sauveur [15]
1964 Abandoned due to snow [3]
Casa Pupo Foursomes
1965   Marley Spearman &   Brigitte Varangot 290 21 strokes   Claudine Cros &   Ann Irvin [16]
Avia Foursomes
1966   Vicomtesse de St Sauveur &   Brigitte Varangot 307 12 strokes   Angela Bonallack &   Shirley Ward [17]
1967   Bridget Jackson &   Vivien Saunders 314 6 strokes   Liz Chadwick &   Catherine Lacoste [18]
1968   Ann Irvin &   Ruth Porter 317 4 strokes   Isa Goldschmid &   Pam Tredinnick [19]
1969   Linda Denison-Pender &   Corinne Reybroeck 319 1 stroke   Beverly Huke &   Catherine Lacoste [20]
1970   Gillian Cheetham &   Jill Thornhill 305 5 strokes   Sally Barber &   Mary Everard [21]
1971   Linda Denison-Pender &   Corinne Reybroeck 150 2 strokes   Belle Robertson &   Frances Smith [4]
1972   Diane Frearson &   Belle Robertson 303 1 stroke   Sally Barber &   Mary Everard [22]
1973   Linda Denison-Pender &   Mickey Walker
  Anne-Marie Palli &   Brigitte Varangot
307 Tie [23]
1974   Carol Le Feuvre &   Carole Redford 268 2 strokes   Linda Bayman &   Maisie Mooney [5]
1975 Abandoned due to snow [6]
1976   Sally Barber &   Angela Bonallack 307 1 stroke   Audrey Briggs &   Patricia Harvie [24]
1977   Mary McKenna &   Tegwen Perkins 312 1 stroke   Sandra Needham &   Angela Uzielli [25]
1978   Mary Everard &   Vivien Saunders 310 5 strokes   Mary McKenna &   Tegwen Perkins [26]
1979   Linda Bayman &   Anne Sander 302 6 strokes   Sally Barber &   Angela Uzielli [27]
1980   Linda Bayman &   Maureen Madill 266 2 strokes   Mary McKenna &   Tegwen Thomas [7]
1981   Belle Robertson &   Winnie Wooldridge 309 1 stroke   Jane Chapman &   Christine McIntosh [28]
1982   Wilma Aitken &   Angela Uzielli 298 4 strokes   Linda Bayman &   Maureen Madill [29]
1983   Jill Nicolson &   Jill Thornhill 305 2 strokes   Linda Bayman &   Maureen Madill [30]
1984   Mary McKenna &   Belle Robertson 298 1 stroke   Laura Davies &   Sarah Duhig [31]
1985   Linda Bayman &   Maureen Garner 149 2 strokes   Jill Nicolson &   Jill Thornhill [8]
1986   Mary McKenna &   Belle Robertson 298 2 strokes   Linda Bayman &   Maureen Garner [32]
1987   Tracy Hammond &   Susan Moorcraft 301 1 stroke   Janet Collingham &   Pat Smillie [33]
1988   Karen Mitchell &   Nicola Way 305 1 stroke   Elizabeth Boatman &   Angela Uzielli [34]
1989   Lora Fairclough &   Joanne Morley 224 3 strokes   Linda Bayman &   Julie Wade [9]

References

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  1. ^ "One of golf's longest running sponsorships ..." The Guardian. 17 March 1989. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Jacobs, Raymond (15 February 1978). "Strong field for £50,000 Colgate title". The Glasgow Herald. p. 21.
  3. ^ a b "Kayser-Bondor event off". The Glasgow Herald. 17 March 1964. p. 6.
  4. ^ a b "Final day of Avia washed out". The Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1971. p. 6.
  5. ^ a b "Scots girls falter with 82". The Glasgow Herald. 22 March 1974. p. 4.
  6. ^ a b "Snow cancels Avia event". The Glasgow Herald. 20 March 1975. p. 19.
  7. ^ a b "Avia watches women's international tournament". The Guardian. 21 March 1980. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Maltman on course for a celebration". The Glasgow Herald. 22 March 1985. p. 30.
  9. ^ a b "Avia watches women's foursomes". The Guardian. 17 March 1989. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Tie in Kayser Bondor event". The Glasgow Herald. 21 March 1958. p. 4.
  11. ^ "Scottish pair win easily". The Glasgow Herald. 20 March 1959. p. 4.
  12. ^ "Easy win for French pair". The Glasgow Herald. 25 March 1960. p. 13.
  13. ^ "Women's foursomes win for Scots". The Glasgow Herald. 24 March 1961. p. 15.
  14. ^ "Foursomes win for Mrs Anderson". The Glasgow Herald. 23 March 1962. p. 15.
  15. ^ "Kayser Bondor tournament". The Glasgow Herald. 22 March 1963. p. 6.
  16. ^ "Anglo-French pair win Casa Pupo by 21 strokes". The Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1965. p. 8.
  17. ^ "French pair's Avia win". The Glasgow Herald. 18 March 1966. p. 8.
  18. ^ "English pair win by six strokes". The Glasgow Herald. 17 March 1967. p. 6.
  19. ^ "Small players' success". The Glasgow Herald. 22 March 1968. p. 6.
  20. ^ "Youngest pair win Avia". The Glasgow Herald. 21 March 1969. p. 6.
  21. ^ "Avia winners set record". The Glasgow Herald. 20 March 1970. p. 6.
  22. ^ "Mrs Robertson wins by a stroke after splendid recovery". The Glasgow Herald. 17 March 1972. p. 4.
  23. ^ "Foursomes finishes in a tie". The Glasgow Herald. 23 March 1973. p. 4.
  24. ^ "Sally and Angela scrape home". The Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1976. p. 25.
  25. ^ "Tegwen's chip shot a winner". The Glasgow Herald. 18 March 1977. p. 29.
  26. ^ "Avia women's foursomes". The Guardian. 17 March 1978. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Avia women's foursomes". The Guardian. 16 March 1979. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Scots pair win nerve war". The Glasgow Herald. 20 March 1981. p. 23.
  29. ^ "Aitken triumphs in Avia". The Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1982. p. 24.
  30. ^ "Carbon-copy title victory". The Glasgow Herald. 18 March 1983. p. 23.
  31. ^ "Avia win, but Belle snub for Curtis Cup". The Glasgow Herald. 16 March 1984. p. 25.
  32. ^ "Belle and Mary turn back clock". The Glasgow Herald. 21 March 1986. p. 32.
  33. ^ "Stephen's new season off to a sub-par start". The Glasgow Herald. 20 March 1987. p. 34.
  34. ^ "Faldo chips in and shares lead on 66". The Glasgow Herald. 18 March 1988. p. 39.